HBO’s 'Watchmen' character Chief Crawford’s death in episode 1 draws comparison to Alan Moore’s Comedian aka Edward Blake
Spoilers ahead for 'Watchmen' episode 1 titled 'It's Summer and We're Running Out of Ice'
HBO's 'Watchmen' is definitely set in the same universe as Alan Moore's graphic novel of the same name. The plot is inspired by the graphic novel and the many numbers of nods by creator Damon Lindelof to the film and the graphic novel have been noticed by fans.
One of the most interesting fan theories so far is about Don Johnson's character Chief Judd Crawford, the chief of the Tulsa Police. Fans are drawing parallels between Chief Crawford and the Comedian featured in the comic and the film directed by Zack Snyder.
First and foremost, we must talk about Chief Crawford's death. At the end of the first episode, Will Reeves, who is now revealed as the boy who escaped the Tulsa race riots, strung Chief Crawford up in a tree.
The act itself is a reference to the riots, and real-life lynching of Black men, women and children that had taken place in the U.S. following the civil war. Then we have the scene which, in essence, is a nod to the opening in the comic with the murder of Edward Morgan Blake popularly known as the Comedian.
The blood that dripped on the badge of a smiley is similar to the blood that dripped on Crawford's badge. This was the closing scene of the first episode of the show. Then we have the fact that actor Johnson has been credited with a series regular role in 'Watchmen'.
This indicates the actor will be seen in the future despite having met his end in the first episode. This is quite similar to the Comedian's arc. Despite being killed by Adrian Veidt in the opening scene, we see the Comedian appear throughout the comic in the form of flashbacks.
How he sexually assaulted fellow Minutemen Sally Jupiter aka Silk Spectre was one of the many things we see in these flashbacks. Could we see Chief Crawford's character also be dissected in the same format?
This is something fans are especially excited about and as a result are drawing smaller similarities between the Comedian and Chief Crawford. For example, Chief Crawford's addiction to drugs and the Comedian's alcohol use.
Then there are smaller references like the book titled 'Under the Hood' which is on Chief Crawford's desk. This autobiography by Hollis Mason aka Nite Owl is one of the sources that exposed the Minutemen.
This book also describes how The Comedian sexually assaulted Silk Spectre. There is also the song that plays in the background, while Lord of the Manor (Jeremy Irons) is having his dinner which is the same song 'Unforgettable' that played during the opening scene of the film that portrayed the Comedian's death.
The next episode of 'Watchmen' will air Sunday at 9 p.m. EST on HBO.